“Why haven’t you said anything about this before?” asked Are softly. “I had no idea.”
“I said nothing because Silje and Tengel accepted her without asking questions – because I wanted Meta to be accepted as she is, not out of pity. Besides, I thought you’d be too young to understand such horrible things.”
“Well, you were wrong about that,” said Are and went back to his work.
Sol gave a start: She suddenly remembered again the mounted soldier heading towards Linden Avenue and the farm. “Oh, Dag. We have to arrive before Jacob Skille! How on earth can we run with several pounds of mud stuck to our boots?”
They just managed to stop Jacob before he reached the farm. When he caught sight of them, he stopped on Linden Avenue right below Sol’s tree.
Sol could feel how her welcoming smile stiffened, but Jacob gave no sign that he’d noticed it. He was simply so happy at seeing Sol again. He gladly accepted Dag’s offer to stay at Graastensholm. Sol motioned to Dag to give them some space and she walked with Jacob up to the farm.
“And what brings you here, my friend?” she asked, trying to sound friendly.
“I asked to be transferred to Akershus and my request was accepted,” he said with pride. “So now the two of us can be together, Sol. I’ve longed so much for you, and now, at last, I’m on my way to ask your father to make an honest woman of you!”
Sol immediately noticed that he was dressed in his finest uniform, straps and buckles polished and with a plumed helmet. He was clearly very serious about it all.
“For goodness sake, don’t mention that you’ve already made a dishonest woman of me, will you?” she hissed.
Jacob was surprised at the intensity of Sol’s voice.
“I thought you would have done so. Haven’t you spoken of us at all?”
“Well, yes. But I haven’t gone into any detail. My parents are decent people and they’d be very upset if they knew. Jacob, please wait before you ask my parents for their permission to marry me. This isn’t a very good time – they’re still distraught over my sister’s tragedy. I’ll tell you about it later. What’s more, my dad needs my help through the winter ...”
‘Well, well,’ thought Sol to herself, ‘maybe caring for the sick can be useful after all.‘
“My parents will make you very welcome. I’ve told them how well you looked after me in Scania – but for the moment we can keep our love a secret, can’t we? I’ll tell you as soon as the time is right.”
Ugh! How hard it was for Sol to say the word ‘love.’
“But I’ve longed to be together with you,” said Jacob.
“Meet me tomorrow by the river in the woods over there! After midday!”
Jacob Skille was clearly confused at having to change his plans but nodded.
Sol discreetly waved back to Dag, who was following behind, to join them.
“How long will you be staying?” she asked Jacob.
“I report for duty in three weeks’ time,” he said.
Heavens, three weeks! How was she going to put him off for that length of time?
Silje and Tengel hadn’t heard all that much about Jacob Skille, but they greeted him kindly and thanked him for escorting Sol in Scania. Dag, however, understood that Sol was on tenterhooks and he quickly hurried Jacob away with him to Graastensholm.
As they left, Sol heaved a big sigh of relief.
***
Later that day, Sol happened to glance through a window and saw Meta coming across from the barn carrying two pails. She met Are in the yard and he stopped to talk to her. Sol couldn’t hear what he said but she saw Meta lift her head and look at him in bewilderment. Sol could see Are’s smile brighten and how his hand quickly brushed Meta’s cheek. Then he took the pails and walked with her into the house.
Sol moved away from the window with a satisfied smile - peace and harmony had been restored. She knew that Are wasn’t acting out of sympathy alone: He’d truly learned a lesson. Although he was a teenager and was experiencing the trials and tribulations of puberty, there was so much warmth and humanity in him.
But Sol had told Meta’s story to Silje and Tengel, and Dag had told it to Charlotte. From then on, everything was done on both farms to help the little girl from Scania settle in and feel at home. She was still allowed to work because they believed that this was best for her, but she was no longer treated merely as a servant but as part of the family. Nobody objected to this because at Graastensholm and Linden Avenue, the everyday tasks and responsibilities were shared by all.
***
The following day, Sol met Jacob beside the river in the woods. This was her secret place where she used to walk with her cat in the old days.
Jacob Skille sat down next to her in the soft, warm grass.
“So how are things?” she asked.
“At Graastensholm? Excellent, thank you. Dag’s mother is a very fine and exceptional lady. She’s pleasant to talk to.”
“Aunt Charlotte is one of a kind. We all adore her.”
“I can well understand. I’ve been doing some odd jobs in the big house for her. I’m pretty clever with my hands and Dag doesn’t really have the skills.”
“No. At the moment, he concentrates on our sister’s problems. He’s sorting out her late husband’s estate, you see ...”
Sol continued her hectic monologue in order to avoid advances from Jacob, who looked sad.
When at last she paused, he shook his head in a little involuntary gesture of confusion.
“Sol, why are you avoiding me?”
“Avoiding?” she laughed nervously. “Do you call this avoiding, meeting you here in the woods in secret?”
“Maybe not, but something in your manner towards me worries me. There’s so much I’ve been dreaming of, Sol.”
“Oh, Jacob!”
She turned to look at him and he kissed her urgently and passionately.
When she managed to free herself, delicately and tenderly, she said: “It’s true that I’ve changed a bit. In Scania, we were so free and so far from home. Here I must respect my parents’ wishes. Dear Jacob, do you find it strange if I’d prefer not ...to be embraced by you ... just yet? Do you understand me when I say that I want to feel pure and innocent until we belong to each other properly?”
Jacob was touched by what she’d said. “Of course I’ll respect your wishes. I can wait – forever if I must ... my little dove.”
Dove? What a thing to call me, thought Sol.
Sol walked home, bearing the weight of the world’s guiltiest conscience on her shoulders. How on earth was she going to get out of this? She wouldn’t wish Jacob Skille far away although, to be quite honest, that was what she truly wanted. She didn’t want to hurt his feelings ... so what could she do?
All the way home, in time with her footsteps and through clenched teeth, she whispered to herself: “Damn, damn, damn ...!”
***
Dag stood in the large Berenius office building down by the Oslo harbour, staring in disbelief at the peasant who’d just arrived to deliver a load of timber. The man was twisting his cap in his hands, uncomfortable at the look on Dag’s face.
“Do you mean to say that you don’t want any money for the timber you’ve just brought? If that’s so, why have you brought it here?”
The peasant ran his fingers round the edge of his cap. “Mr. Berenius, the owner of the sawmill, ordered me to bring it. His Majesty the King needed the timber,” he said.
“What are you saying? It’s probably true that the King is to receive a certain percentage and that we must pay our due taxes to him, but a full load of timber? Has this happened before?”
“Ten loads a year, sir.”
“What? And the other peasants?
“It’s the same for them as well, sir.”
“Good God! No wonder
Berenius was rich! What about the other loads you bring – those that aren’t for the King – what do you get for them?”
The peasant mentioned a ridiculously low price.
“No, I’m not having this. Now I ask you to gather all the peasants who have delivered timber in the past year and tell them to come here one week from today. Here’s a list of their names. Then you’ll all be paid the money you’re entitled to from this timber merchant for the year that’s just gone. From now on, you’ll have a proper agreement and be paid a reasonable wage for your timber and the work you do. Will that be satisfactory?”
The peasant could hardly believe the words that Dag had just spoken. He was floored. Then he nodded eagerly and dashed out of the door.
Dag turned to the foreman, who seemed utterly confused. “What about the labourers here? What are their wages?”
“Wages?”
It appeared that they were paid in kind: Bread and spirits, and a daler, an old Danish coin worth less than 40 cents, for Christmas. Dag closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh.
“I’ll go over the bookkeeping books and see what I can pay them. I’m ashamed. Ashamed on behalf of Berenius.”
***
As Dag began reorganising the business and putting matters in Oslo on a better footing, Liv’s burden of problems began to be lifted thanks to Meta. Nobody took so much care of the child as Liv. One day, they entered the house together, dissolved in laughter.
“You’re smiling,” said Silje. “It’s the most wonderful sight and one which I’ve waited for for so long.”
“I don’t know what it is,” answered Liv, throwing her arms wide as if to embrace the world. “Maybe it’s because Dag has done something truly great. He’s sold that horrible house in Oslo and bought another one instead. It will be his office now when he really gets down to doing business in earnest. It will also be the family’s Oslo home if any of you need to stay there.”
“That’s wonderful news,” said Silje. “But best of all is your happiness, Liv – my little one – and Meta’s, of course.”
“Besides, Dag’s changing the way the business is run completely. He’s given the foreman greater authority and seen to it that the labourers have better conditions. The forestry peasants’ standing has been improved by the new agreements. They all think the world of Dag. The only issue is that the King should receive such a disgustingly large amount of timber – for free!”
This was true, but even so, the King was only to receive a fraction of what Laurents Berenius had said. He’d been putting the difference – a staggeringly high amount – in his own pocket.
“Liv,” said Silje indignantly. “You mustn’t talk badly about His Majesty the King.”
“Yes, but what’s he done to deserve all that timber?”
“Liv, the King is above criticism!”
It was here that Sol burst out laughing. “Then you should have seen your beloved Majesty, Silje, at the party I was at in Copenhagen! The flabby, big mountain of fat they carried out, dead drunk while he babbled incoherently. It took six men to lift him. They say that King Christian IV’s love of booze is only surpassed by that of his late father, Frederik II. Although, in his defence, it must be said that his mind is crystal clear the morning after, and nobody can criticise the way he’s ruled the country. But he shouldn’t have a tenth of the peasants’ timber and the tax on what Liv sells. He’s increased customs duties this year, and he won’t be the one who’s losing out!”
Silje had been staring hard at Sol while her illusions were being shattered.
“You didn’t have to tell us all that, Sol” said Tengel. “Silje has always had a touching belief in the monarchy. We’ve tried to bring you up differently – we wanted you to be strong, independent individuals, but that also means that you must respect the views and feelings of others. Do you understand me, Sol?”
“Yes, sorry.”
Tengel nodded. “King Christian is a good man. The best Danish king we’ve had – and he does care about Norway. Though his father never did.”
“There’s something else that bothers me,” Are said. “There are those who don’t like that we mix with Danes.”
“Are you referring to the fact that we’re friends with Charlotte?” asked Tengel. “There can’t be many who object to that.”
“I haven’t heard anything,” said Sol.
“Neither have I,” added Liv.
“I have,” said Silje. “But as you say, they are few and far between. Only fanatics can have such opinions about Charlotte, a woman on her own.”
“Aunt Charlotte is very much liked,” said Liv. “Dag is so proud of her.”
“The majority of people in Norway have accepted that there are Danes here,” said Tengel. “But there are also some opponents, and I happen to be on their side. Norway was once a superpower but through the manipulations of several dynasties, she became dominated by Denmark. A time of great tension may come but hardly during King Christian’s reign.”
“What do you actually believe yourself?” asked Sol.
“I want a free Norway like we all do,” answered Tengel. “But Charlotte is our dearest friend and I’ll not turn against her because she’s a Dane. No, most people in these parts mix with Danes. So Are: Don’t pay attention to the few odd ones. That’s my advice!”
“Well, those I came across and who disapproved were just a couple of youngsters.”
Tengel nodded. “Future rebels, I’m sure. We can’t afford to be involved. We must avoid attracting attention for Sol’s sake.”
“For my sake?” echoed Sol. “I’m certainly able to look after myself!”
Tengel sounded skeptical. “You must be extremely careful, Sol. One small misstep could bring catastrophic consequences to us all – but especially to you, Sol!”
“Have I not been as meek as a lamb?”
“Yes, you have, but I see the signs and I’m worried. You’re becoming restless again. Only the other day you used magic on the shoemaker’s wife so that she recovered miraculously. This will have to stop! Please just stick to the herbs now?”
Sol nodded and promised to be an angel from now on.
***
Sol lay in bed with her arms tucked under her head, gazing at the ceiling. Liv was asleep. You could tell that by her breathing.
It was high time to do something about the problem of Jacob Skille, thought Sol. He was still at Graastensholm but was due to leave in a few days’ time. Thankfully he hadn’t turned up at Linden Avenue for a whole week, probably because he was disappointed at Sol’s guarded behaviour.
She was beginning to feel the same restlessness that sent her on her journeys to Blakulla. She wouldn’t and shouldn’t go on another trip as they tended to upset her and made her pull back from the real world. What’s more, she hadn’t been able to find a remedy for the awful headaches and nausea she would suffer afterwards.
It had been raining for many days, but the earth was dry once more. Should she persuade Jacob to go into the forest and then ‘seduce’ him? That would probably make him happy and he would have no idea that this was her plan right from the beginning. They’d just be ‘irresistibly drawn into each other’s arms.’
She made a few plans before she fell asleep.
***
The next day she went up to Graastensholm dressed in light, sensuous clothes.
When she arrived there, she found that the hall was looking very grand. Someone had obviously been at work here. Drapes had been placed on the walls and a new fireplace had been built in the corner.
She heard voices from the drawing room and walked over to the door. Charlotte was laughing, a cheerful, carefree laugh, and without hesitating, Sol knocked and entered the room. As she did so, Jacob Skille and Charlotte moved quickly away from each other.
“Oh, Sol!” exclaimed Charlotte, her cheeks blushing a brigh
t crimson. “Come in!”
Jacob Skille’s face showed no emotion at first, but Sol began to see a silent plea, a desperate warning in his eyes. “Please don’t say anything about us!” Sol gazed steadily back at him and this seemed to calm him. She realised that she had no wish to expose him – quite the opposite!
Afterwards, she couldn’t remember what they’d been talking about or what she’d said for that matter. It was mostly chitchat. Charlotte showed her all the newly arranged furnishings and improvements, telling her repeatedly how wonderful it was to have a man about the house. Sol probably asked after Dag – yes, she had, although she knew perfectly well that he was in Oslo. Then she left shortly afterwards, confused, but more than a little amused.
So she, the irresistible Sol, was beaten to it by a middle-aged and far from beautiful woman! Did Dag know about this, she wondered?
Still, she was very pleased that Charlotte had found romance. There had been precious little of that in her life! It was all the more satisfactory, as Charlotte and Jacob were closer in age than she and Jacob.
However, she hoped that Jacob was serious. Charlotte wasn’t going to be hurt again!
What would happen to Dag now? Were Jacob Skille’s intentions honourable or was he after her fortune?
No, she thought, absolutely not... So this was the reason why he hadn’t been down to Linden Avenue for a few days!
She laughed heartily.
She had been under no illusions about Jacob’s love for her: It had been nothing but a passionate physical attraction just as hers had been curiosity and a wish for a little adventure. His feelings for Charlotte were evidently quite different. As soon as she’d entered Graastensholm this time, she instantly sensed just how strong their feelings were for each other.
At that moment, Sol felt her emotions turn into a deep mood of melancholy. She wasn’t sad about Jacob, far from it, but what was left for her? Was it impossible for her to love and be loved by a man in the way that Tengel and Silje loved one another?
The Stepdaughter Page 19
